we were born sick. || lashton ✓

2

ashton.
..
"Yes, I'm fucking gay Ashton!" Luke screams at me, tears falling down his face. I swim over to him and wipe his face free of tears.

"Please don't cry." I whisper.

"Why not? My life is fucked up. I'm gay, Ashton! Do you not realize what will happen to me if anyone ever found out? They would kill me! Literally!"

"Luke, did the thought ever occur to you that you're not the only one that's gay in the close minded ass town?" Luke looks up to me when I say this and my heart breaks when I see a flash of sadness in his eyes.

"What do you mean?" He asks.

"I mean, I'm gay, too. Did you not pick up on that? I turned down every girl at school, even when they begged to have one date with me. I literally do everything with you. I text you good morning and good night every day. I never forget anything about you, even when you, yourself forgets simple facts like your favourite band or pair of skinny jeans. I always insist that you sleep in my bed when you stay over, even if that means I'm sleeping on the floor."

"I never noticed. I just thought you were a good friend."

"Well, you're not alone Luke. And, I like you a lot." I say, whispering by the end of my sentence. I look down into the water focusing on our feet, hoping Luke doesn't get freaked out by the fact I just confessed my feelings for him.

"I like you a lot, too." He whispers, causing me to look back up to him. He smiles shyly when our eyes meet and I think I fall more in love. I've never seen Luke blush before because no one has had this effect on him before. I'm glad I can be the one to make him swoon.

"Can we eat now?" Luke laughs after a couple of minutes. I nod and we climb out of the lake to go sit under the tree where our picnic basket is. I begin taking out the food my mom packed for us while Luke wraps himself in a towel, I also brought along. When Luke sits down we begin eating the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and I can't help but smile. Even if we never date. Even if nothing happens between Luke and me, I still have the knowledge that he has feelings for me as well. And I know I'm not alone.

"Ash?" Luke says softly. I turn to face him and notice he's moved closer to me.

"Yea?" I answer, taking in his worried features.

"Will there ever... I mean will we ever..."

"Date?" Luke nods and I sigh, "That's up to you. Personally, I want to. I've wanted to be with you from the minute I figured out I was gay. But, I'm not going to pressure you into something you're uncomfortable with. I know it would be hard, but I'm willing to risk everything for you." Luke nods, taking in my answer. I can nearly see the gears turning in his head as he thinks.

"I want to as well. It'll be hard and we'll have to keep it a secret, but I've wanted this for as long as I can remember." Luke answers. I smile and open my arms for him. He grins, blushing once more, and crawls into my lap.

"Ashton?"

"Yes, Lukey?"

"Will you be my boyfriend?"

"I thought we just discussed this?" I joke.

"I want to do it the proper way." Luke pouts.

"Fine, fine. Okay, ask me again."

"Ashton, will you be my boyfriend?"

"Yes, Lukey, I will." I smile, watching Luke's face turn from a pout into a huge smile.

-

We spent the rest of the afternoon swimming and talking about each other. Since we've never expressed to anyone how we feel, everything just spilled out. We told stories about awkward boners and sleepless nights watching the other sleep. I learned Luke loves it when I wear my leather jacket. I told Luke I love it when he laughs. It was a good afternoon.

"So, I'll pick you up for school in the morning?" I ask as we walk up to Luke's house.

"Yea, if you want." He smiles.

"Can't let my Lukey walk to school now can I?"

"Shut up." Luke laughs, shaking his head. I really love it when he laughs. As we walk up to the door, I, on instinct, lean in to kiss Luke's cheek, but he pulls away.

"Sorry..." He whispers, sadness in his eyes. I nod, understanding what he means.

"See you tomorrow." I whisper before Luke walks into his house. I sigh before walking down the sidewalk back to my house. It takes me ten minutes to get there and when I do, I go directly to the kitchen to throw away the trash from our picnic.

"How was lunch?" My mom asks, walking into the kitchen and kissing my forehead.

"Good, we swam for a bit after we ate. It was fun."

"That's good. So, I need to talk to you about something."

"Okay..." I pull myself so I'm sitting on the counter as mom begins preparing dinner.

"Have you put any thought into the dance the church is hosting? Maybe about who you'll go with?"

"I don't know if I even want to go really." I admit. If I can't go with my boyfriend, I'd rather not go at all.

"You're going Ashton. Even if you go alone. It's to raise money for that poor family who had their house burned down a few weeks ago. I talked to Liz and she said Luke was going to be attending. Even if you just hang out with him, that's fine."

"I guess I'll go drag out my tux then."

"Why don't you take that nice girl Bryana? She doesn't have a date yet."

"I'd rather not go with her. She's always been rude to me."

"She seemed rather thrilled when I said you would go with her."

"MOM!" I shout, highly pissed that my mom has set me up on a date. Not only that, but even before asking who I want to go with. I didn't even want to go in the first place!

"What?" Mom says innocently.

"You can't just expect me to go to a dance and have this whole idea in your head that I'll follow along with. I don't even want to go!"

"Well, I'm sorry son. I'm helping Liz with this, for one thing. So I am not going to have my son flake out of going and look like an introvert, when I'm part of the committee that is hosting the damned thing. And it's also for a good cause, and I'm not going to have my son look like a jerk just because he would rather stay home and play those stupid drums than go to a social event. You're going, and you're going with Bryana. That is final. Now go try on the suit I bought you today. It's laying on your bed." Mom orders. With wide eyes, I walk upstairs to my room where I find a suit laying on my bed. It's black with a black dress shirt and red tie.

"At least I'll look good." I mumble as I start taking my clothes from the lake off. I toss them into my clothes hamper before pulling on the suit. As I look in the mirror I have to admit I look decent. I grab my phone of my bed and take a picture to send to Luke.

To: Baby Boy- Mom said I have to go to that dance the church is having Saturday. She set me up with Bryana (ew). This is my outfit. Thoughts?

I hit send and walk downstairs while I wait for Luke to reply.

"You look very nice Ashton. I figured you'd like those colors." Mom says, straightening up my tie. I then walk back to my room and lock the door behind me. I take off the suit and hang it up on my closet door before plopping down onto my bed and reading my text from Luke.

From: Baby Boy- Bryana better keep her damn hands off my man or I might have to smack a bitch. And you look hot, babe. But then again you always look hot.

I chuckle before rolling over and staring at my ceiling. How'd I ever get so lucky?

..

no hate on bry, she's my mom